We should follow gun show's policy

President Barack Obama listened to the wrong people about gun control.

He should have dumped the politically correct task force headed by Vice President Joe Biden and, instead, sought the advice -- and followed the example -- of regular American citizens who buy guns, sell guns, collect guns, restore guns and who deeply, passionately and unabashedly LOVE guns.

In other words, the men and women you'd bump into this weekend in Phoenix if you were to attend the Crossroads of the West Gun Show at the Arizona state fairgrounds.

Crossroads regularly sponsors gun shows in Arizona.

According to the company website, "During the last year, Crossroads of the West Gun Shows attracted over 407,000 customers, more than any other gun show in America. Crossroads of the West Gun Shows are America's Best Gun Shows. All of our shows offer hundreds of tables to meet the needs of everyone, from the once a year hunter to the avid collector."

The organizers of such an event and the individuals who pay to attend know more about the value of firearms and their inherent danger than Vice President Biden or anyone on his task force.

They're the people who should set federal policy.

Although if they did, it would be a lot more restrictive than what the president proposed Wednesday.

I know this after having stopped by a recent Crossroads of the West Gun Show, where I learned that no one in attendance was carrying a loaded weapon.

Let me pause ... and say that again.

At an arena filled with gun dealers, vendors, collectors and enthusiasts, all of whom I presumed to be good, law-abiding, knowledgeable, safety-conscious owners of firearms, no one was permitted to carry a loaded weapon.

Why?

The policy is explained under the "Frequently Asked Questions" on the Crossroads website. It reads:

"Q: Can I bring a gun to the show to sell or trade?

"A: Yes, and many folks do. Please be sure the gun is unloaded before you enter the building, and take it to our gun check table at the show entry for verification. They will clear it and secure it with a nylon tie to disable the action. No loaded firearms and no loaded magazines are permitted in any Crossroads gun show. Your personal safety is our number one priority while you are at the show."

These people are authorities in the field.

If they say that it would be unsafe to allow honest, proficient, sensible firearms owners to carry loaded weapons at a public gathering, I'm willing to go along.

Besides, the rules probably loosen up for people who have had more intensive firearms training.

Or do they?

Again, according to the Crossroads website:

"Q: Can I carry a loaded gun in the gun show? I have a Concealed Carry Permit.

"A: We respectfully request that you do not bring any loaded firearm into the gun show. Safety is our Number One Priority, and a safe environment in the show can only be maintained if there are no loaded guns in the show."

Really?

A safe environment is possible "only" if there are no loaded guns in the show?

Now, I feel silly.

I thought firearms enthusiasts would argue just the opposite.

After all, in response to the massacre of schoolchildren in Newtown, Conn., the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, said, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

I'm guessing the good guy's gun would have to be loaded.

So, does a ban on loaded weapons make customers at a gun show sitting ducks?

No.

It tells us that the organizers of big gun shows understand both firearms and human nature. It tells us that bad things can happen in a room filled with good people if there are no simple, common-sense rules. It tells us that it is possible to protect individuals and their constitutional freedoms at the same time.

Besides, there currently is no universal background check, which President Barack Obama on Wednesday asked Congress to enact.

So, while a federally licensed gun dealer at a gun show must run a background check on each customer, no criminal search is yet required for an individual who purchases a weapon from a private seller at the same show.

Would you be a little uncomfortable handing over a fully-loaded semiautomatic assault weapon to a guy who hadn't been checked out?

Gun-show organizers appear to be.

And, you know, they're the experts.

Reach Montini at 602-444-8978.

EDITORIAL: In the context of gun violence, freedom to peaceably assemble is the forgotten right. B6